December 13 - The Day that Altered American History Happened in Basking Ridge, New Jersey

The world might have had a different look if it wasn’t for this event.

Basking Ridge, New Jersey’s most famous Incident occurred on December 13, 1776, at about noon. General Charles Lee (1731-1782), was “alarmed” by Major Wilkinson while writing a letter to General Gates about George Washington in an upstairs bedroom of the Widow White’s Tavern. Widow White’s Tavern, named after Ebenezer White’s wife Mary Brown White, became the centerpiece of Revolutionary War history on that day because It was on this most unfortunate day for General Lee that General Lee became a prisoner of the British Army, leaving General Washington.

It was almost General Charles Lee over General George Washington until Basking Ridge Happened

There was no secret that General Charles Lee had disdain for General Washington. General Charles Lee, who had been captured in Basking Ridge on December 13, 1776, was held by the British as a prisoner until exchanged in 1778. He remarked, “Washington is not fit enough to command a Sergeant’s Guard.” Washington attempted to secure Lee’s release through a prisoner exchange, but he had no captives of similar rank with which to bargain, and Lee remained in British custody for almost 18 months. Based on the capture, no one from Congress was willing to back Lee to lead the Continental Army and the position remained with General Washington.

Major General Washington telling General Charles Lee to not retreat at the Battle of Monmouth. — Recreation: Major General Washington told General Charles Lee not to retreat at the Battle of Monmouth. That event was the last straw for Lee, who soon after faced a court martial at the hands of Basking Ridge’s own Lord Stirling.

During this time, Lee appears to have wavered in allegiance to his adopted country. In 1858, a document titled “Mr. Lee’s Plan, 29th March 1777” was discovered; it advised Howe on how to defeat the Continental Army.

Up until his death, Lee continued to express animosity toward Washington as a “puffed-up charlatan.” In his last will and testament, Lee asked that he not be buried in a churchyard. “I have kept so much bad company when living,” he wrote, “I do not choose to continue it when dead.” Despite these wishes, Lee was buried at the cemetery at Christ Church, Philadelphia.

Visit the Spot

It’s very simple. If the British hadn’t found out that General Lee was at the Basking Ridge tavern, he may have been able to sway the Continental Congress to select him as the Continental Army’s primary General. Washington would have had to serve as a subordinate. Lee would have most likely retreated (as he did from the Battle of Monmouth), and as they say, the rest would have been history.

This small sign stands on the corner of Cedar and S. Finley reminds us how things could have been very different in America if it wasn't for what happened here. — This small sign stands on the corner of Cedar and S. Finley and reminds us how things could have been very different in America if it hadn’t been for what happened here.

So, next time you’re traveling around Basking Ridge, stop by the signpost on the corner of Cedar Avenue and South Finley Avenue and remember the moment when Basking Ridge’s history changed the world forever.